News In Brief

Congress passed and sent to the White House Friday a bill extending federal supplemental unemployment benefits for 18 months. The benefits expired Oct. 1, the start of fiscal year 1984, but Congress had continued them temporarily through this week. The House passed the bill by a vote of 300 to 5; the Senate passed the measure by a voice vote. Jobless workers who have exhausted all other aid can get 8 to 14 weeks of additional benefits under the supplemental program. The number of weeks will be determined by the unemployment rate in each state, with the maximum amount to states with the highest rates.